The Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) have co-hosted a four-day Joint Learning Programme on Inclusive Green Finance (IGF) Policy Implementation, bringing together policymakers and central bankers from across the globe to strengthen climate-resilient and inclusive financial systems.
Held in Port Moresby from 28 to 31 October, the programme united key financial and development stakeholders to discuss ways to integrate inclusive green finance into national and institutional frameworks.
Discussions focused on Papua New Guinea’s climate priorities, the development of the Inclusive Green Finance Policy (IGFP), and the establishment of the Green Finance Centre, which will serve as a hub for coordination, research and innovation in sustainable finance.
Participants explored gender-responsive data, Digital Financial Services (DFS) and emerging financing options such as green bonds and blended finance to design inclusive and adaptive policies. The sessions also emphasised biodiversity conservation, stakeholder collaboration and action planning to strengthen IGF policy implementation and promote sustainable financial inclusion.
Expert insights were shared by AFI member institutions, including the Nepal Rastra Bank, National Bank of Rwanda, Bangladesh Bank, State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Seychelles. Contributions also came from international and local partners such as AFD, UNDP, UNCDF, IFC, the Green Climate Fund, CCDA and various financial institutions in PNG.
BPNG Deputy Governor Jeffery Yabom opened the event by stressing that climate change was “not a distant risk but a lived reality for everyone in the Pacific.” He said that women and vulnerable groups were often the most affected, facing barriers in accessing finance when they needed it most.
The lessons from this programme will extend beyond Papua New Guinea, benefiting regulators across the Pacific and other developing economies facing similar challenges, he said.
AFI’s Director of Strategy, Member Engagement and Evaluation, Aban Haq, commended BPNG for its strong partnership and leadership in advancing inclusive green finance across the AFI network. She noted that the Joint Learning Programme addressed the urgent need for financial inclusion responses to climate change, particularly for women, smallholder farmers and rural communities.
She said that digital financial services play a transformative role in promoting resilience and ensuring that climate adaptation efforts reach those most affected.
Assistant Governor for Financial System Development and Innovation, George Awap, lauded participants for their dedication throughout the four-day programme. He described the event as “a convergence of shared purpose aimed at exploring how inclusive green finance can act both as a shield against the escalating threats of climate change and as a catalyst for sustainable, inclusive economic growth.”
Awap highlighted PNG’s achievements, including the launch of the Green Finance Policy in 2023, the establishment of the Green Finance Centre in 2024, and new international partnerships aligning financial policy with climate goals. He noted that these initiatives had already mobilised over two billion kina in climate-related finance.
He further underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation and capacity building to ensure that financial inclusion benefits those most in need. “BPNG remains committed to building a resilient, low-carbon and inclusive financial ecosystem,” he said.
AFI Regional Manager for the Pacific, Mereseni Tuivunivai, commended BPNG for successfully hosting the four-day programme. She said the training was timely and strengthened participants’ understanding of how to integrate environmental and climate considerations into financial inclusion frameworks.
Mrs Tuivunivai also emphasised the need to develop locally relevant green taxonomies, leverage technology and data for resilient systems and promote gender-responsive financial policies. Collaboration among regulators, government, the private sector and development partners is key to building inclusive and climate-resilient financial ecosystems, she said, urging participants to apply their learnings and translate policy commitments into action.
The BPNG–AFI partnership reflects a growing recognition that financial systems must adapt to climate risks while promoting equitable access to finance, ensuring that no community is left behind in the transition to a sustainable economy.
